Abstract: A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating the particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises thermally analyzing the particles using the temperatures of the particles as a basis for the analysis to indicate composition differences between particles and sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis. The method also comprises controlling the temperature of particles as the particles are moved between a station at which particles are exposed to microwave energy and a station at which particles are thermally analyzed.

Abstract: A selective-sorting berry-harvesting machine includes a supply system which supplies a computer vision system, a computer vision system including an artificial vision device for acquiring images of harvest components originating from the supply system and a processing device for analyzing said images so that the harvest components can be recognised and differentiated according to pre-established criteria, and a system for selectively separating whole, ripe and healthy berries from other components of the harvest, controlled by the processing device. The supply system is configured such that the harvest can be spread out to form a single layer, harvest components can be isolated individually and the harvest components, particularly the whole, ripe and healthy berries, can be moved rectilinearly at a controlled speed so that they are conveyed individually through the computer vision system.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating the particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises thermally analyzing the particles using the temperatures of the particles as a basis for the analysis to indicate composition differences between particles. The thermal analysis step includes thermally assessing particles against a background surface. The thermal analysis step also includes heating the background surface to a temperature that is different to the temperature of the particles to provide a thermal contrast between the particles and the background surface. The method also comprises sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis.

Abstract: A remote data acquisition, transmission and analysis system including handheld wireless equipment to obtain operational data and the status of remote machines is disclosed. A plurality of application controllers are interfaced with the remote machines from which operation data is acquired by the application controllers. The application controllers communicate with an application host via a local area network. The application host may communicate with a network operations center using a wide area network. The handheld wireless equipment may be used to obtain operational information for each remote machine from the network operations center.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the use of differences in x-ray linear absorption coefficients to process ore and remove elements with higher atomic number from elements with lower atomic numbers. Use of this dry method at the mine reduces pollution and transportation costs. One example of said invention is the ejection of inclusions with sulfur, silicates, mercury, arsenic and radioactive elements from coal. This reduces the amount and toxicity of coal ash. It also reduces air emissions and the energy required to clean stack gases from coal combustion. Removal of said ejected elements improves thermal efficiency and reduces the pollution and carbon footprint for electrical production.

Abstract: A droplet interference system for sorting cells and a method for the same. The droplet interference system including a droplet generating system for producing a droplet which hits a fluid stream causing a selected segment of the fluid stream, and the cells contained therein, to be separated from the fluid stream.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for analyzing quantities of grain in-line and separating the grain into batches on the basis of one or more grain parameter values is disclosed. The grain is separated in-line on the basis of the grain parameter value thus allowing the grain to be separated into homogeneous batches.

Abstract: The invention exposes rock fragments of a material to electromagnetic radiation, such as microwave radiation, and detects the thermal response of the material of the rock fragments during or immediately after exposure to detect a mineral within the material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for inspecting, with the aid of a machine (1), transparent or translucent hollow articles (Aj) streaming past a series of monitoring stations each comprising at least one sensor (Ci) delivering an output signal (Si(j)) for each article (Aj) traveling past a sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method cleans a batch of pellets or granules prior to use in an extrusion process. Loose contaminants having material characteristics that are undersired for the extruded product are first removed (110) from the batch using a deduster. The deduster may also remove uncontaminated fines and fluff from the batch. Pellets that are defective or otherwise undersired for the extrusion process as well as other loose particle contaminants can then be efficiently detected and removed (120) without the risks of fines clogging the apparatus or shielding the detection process. Magnets may help remove (130) particulates of ferrous material before or after the removal (120) of defective pellets. The resulting batch of pellets helps to produce extruded materials of higher quality, such as insulation material in electrical cables.

Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.

Abstract: The method relates to the field of mineral enrichment.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for the analysis of rocks and rock fragments. A method for the analysis of a rock fragment including: feeding the rock fragment to a microwave irradiation zone of microwave energy generated by a microwave source; gauging energy absorbed by the rock fragment; and correlating rate of change of the gauged energy absorbed by the rock fragment with compositional characteristics of the rock fragment.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material into at least two categories is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises allowing sufficient time for heat generated in the particles to be transferred through the particles so that the surface temperature of the particles is a measure of the mass average temperature through the particles. The method further comprises thermally analysing the particles to detect temperature differences between particles which indicate composition differences between the particles; and thereafter sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis.

Abstract: A system for sorting a mixed stream of colors and types of cullet into separate groups of cullet with similar color and type includes a source for transmitting light through a cullet, and a camera having a plurality of pixels for receiving light transmitted through the cullet or detecting the absence of light blocked by an opaque contaminant, the camera providing at least one value from the light received, wherein the cullet moves along a designated path based in part on the at least one value. The system further includes a radiation source for irradiating a cullet with selected spectral ranges of radiation, and a sensor for determining characteristics of one or more selected spectral ranges of fluorescent radiation emitted by the cullet, wherein the cullet moves along a designated path based in part on the characteristics of the one or more selected spectral ranges of fluorescent radiation.

Abstract: The present invention concerns itself with a dry, free of toxic chemicals, and thus, environmentally safe, mineral processing technique. It uses ore elements' specific heat differences as the basis for separating valuable minerals from ores. No EPA approval, no environmental pit and no expensive monitoring are required in order to practice the teachings of the present invention. Furthermore, the technique described herein is economically attractive since it is a low cost approach to mineral processing.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a limpness detecting device includes a transmitting unit to irradiate an acoustic wave towards a conveyed sheet to excite a Lamb wave, a first receiving unit to detect a leaky wave of the Lamb wave emitted from a front surface of the sheet, a second receiving unit to detect a leaky wave of the Lamb wave emitted from a back surface of the sheet, a comparison data calculating unit to calculate comparison data based on the signal detected by the first receiving unit and the signal detected by the second receiving unit, and an intactness judgment unit to compare the comparison data calculated by the comparison data calculating unit with a preset standard value and judge whether the sheet is an intact bill or not, based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A conveyer apparatus for transporting and processing tablets includes a conveyer and an ejection system. Each of the tablets includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a belly band that interconnects the first and second sides. The conveyer includes a plurality of carrier links to convey a plurality of tablets along a predetermined conveyer path. Each carrier link has a pocket to receive and transport a tablet in a vertical orientation along the predetermined conveyer path. The ejection system is structured to selectively accept or eject a tablet from the carrier link in response to a signal provided by a sensor positioned upstream of the ejection system.

Abstract: A method for reducing the content of a heavy metal in a mixture of solid plastic materials, wherein the mixture includes plastic flakes and there are at least two different colors of plastic flakes in the mixture. A percentage of each of two or more colors of flakes in the mixture is determined. A heavy metal content in the mixture based on the determined percentages is predicted. Whether the predicted content of the heavy metal in the mixture exceeds a pre-determined threshold is determined. If the predicted content exceeds the pre-determined threshold, a color sorting step is performed to obtain a subset of the mixture of plastic flakes, wherein the subset of the mixture of plastic flakes has a lower heavy metal content than the mixture prior to the color sorting step.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus is described and which includes an inspection station; a multiplicity of electromagnetic radiation emitters and detectors; an optical filter which is positioned in front of the electromagnetic radiation detectors, and which passes electromagnetic radiation having a given polarization; an ejector assembly positioned downstream from the inspection station for removing defective objects of interest which are identified; and a computer/controller for selectively energizing the electromagnetic radiation emitter, and detector, and rendering the ejector assembly operational to remove defective objects of interest, from a stream of objects of interest which have passed through an inspection station.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for processing documents, such as mail contained in envelopes. The operator drops the documents toward a conveyor that serially convey the documents to an imaging device that acquires image data relating to the image of each document. A conveyor conveys the documents from the imaging device to one or more output bins.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sorting plant material based on the presence or absence of a visual marker on the plant material. The visible marker may be a visible genetic color marker in the corn seed which is used in double haploid breeding. The absence or presence of the visible marker identifies correctly pollinated seeds as well as putative haploid seeds.

Abstract: A chute for inspection and sorting apparatus has first and second flat sections, with the lower end of the first section being disposed over the second section to form a step from which product falls onto the second section. Additional sections may be included. In one variant a third channeled section is included, with the lower end of the second section being disposed over the third section forming a second step from which product falls onto the third section.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for sorting foreign material and undesirable articles from a product stream. A mechanical diverter having a concave shape is responsive to an inspection station coupled to the product stream. The mechanical diverter is employed to effectively launch or otherwise redirect undesirable articles in an alternate path. In addition, an air ejector is responsive to the inspection station and is employed to dislodge foreign material from the product stream.

Abstract: Method and automatic system for the determination and the classification of foods based on a high-speed manipulation robot aided by a localization system which is capable of detecting the food which comes along a transport system in a random fashion without contact between one and the other, and to classify it; the robot incorporates a manipulation grip wherein a sensor which permits the determination and classification of the food is housed.

Abstract: An automated system for sorting dissimilar materials, and in particular for sorting plastics from other materials and for sorting different types of plastics from one another comprises, depending upon the embodiment, combinations of a sizing mechanism, a friction separation, an air separator, a magnetic separator, a dielectric sensor sortation bed, shaker screening, a ballistic separator, an inductive sensor sortation system and a float/sink tank. The dielectric sensor sortation system may be either analog or digital, depending upon the particular implementation. One or more float/sink tanks can be used, depending upon the embodiment, each with a media of a different specific gravity. The media may be water, or water plus a compound such as calcium chloride. In addition, multiples of the same general type of module can be used for particular configurations. A heavy media system or a sand float process can be used either alternatively or additionally.

Abstract: Sorting dissimilar materials, such as sorting plastics from wood, foam, or rubber. These systems and methods employ either dielectric heating or fluorescent dye absorption characteristics of materials to distinguish the materials. The systems and methods may employ differential dielectric heating and thermal imaging to sort wood, rubber, and foam, from plastic, metals, and other materials that do not undergo dielectric heating. Similarly, systems and methods may employ the greater liquid absorption properties of wood, rubber, and foam as compared to plastic. The dissimilar materials are subjected to fluorescent dye and carrier liquid, that is differentially absorbed by objects. Fluorescent imaging can be used to distinguish the materials. In either case, a computer-controlled system can be used to sort material types based on an evaluation of the thermal or fluorescent image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a quantity of cullet having at least two colors of glass from an input stream of recyclable material and non-recyclable material. In an embodiment, the system includes a sortation station, a screening apparatus, an air classifier, and a crushing apparatus to provide as output substantially pure cullet having at least two colors.

Abstract: An improved actuator for use in a microfluidic particle sorting system utilizes a staggered packing scheme for a plurality of actuators used to selectively deflect a particle in an associated sorting channel from a stream of channels. An actuator block may be provided for housing a two-dimensional array of actuators, each configured to align with an actuation port in an associated sorting chip containing a plurality of sorting channels. The actuator block may include a built-in stressing means to pre-stress each actuator housed by the block. An actuator comprising a piezo-electric stack may employ contact-based electrical connection rather than soldered wires to improve packing density. The actuator may be an external actuator. That is, the external actuator is external to the substrate in which the sorting channels are formed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the quality of plant material by irradiating said plant material with a beam consisting of several consecutive light pulses of electromagnetic radiation comprising one or more such wavelengths, that at least a part of the chlorophyll present is excitated by at least a part of the radiation, and for each light pulse measuring the fluorescence radiation originating from the plant material and associated with the chlorophyll transition with an imaging detector for obtaining the chlorophyll fluorescence images. The invention also relates to calculating characteristic chlorophyll fluorescence images from the chlorophyll fluorescence images that contain information about the quantum efficiency and the time response of the photosynthetic activity of the photosynthetic system of the plant material.

Abstract: A surface mount process, a surface mount system, and a feeding apparatus thereof are provided. The surface mount system includes a feeding apparatus and a surface mount apparatus. The feeding apparatus includes a vibrating tray feeder module, a vibrating linear feeder module, and a component recycling module. The vibrating tray feeder module has a circular vibrating conveyer belt with a vibrating tray output end. The vibrating linear feeder module has a linear vibrating conveyer belt connected to the vibrating tray output end and has a linear vibrating output end opposite the vibrating tray feeder module. The component recycling module is disposed under the vibrating tray feeder module to recycle the rejected components. The surface mount apparatus has a component receiving unit corresponding to the linear vibrating output end of the vibrating linear feeder module.

Abstract: This invention has as its object an automatic process and machine for inspecting and sorting non-metallic objects.

Abstract: An inspection device includes a movable portion, and a substantially fixed portion. The movable portion includes a plurality of bins as well as beam directors positioned between the bins. The fixed portion includes light detectors and light emitters. The light detectors are arranged to allow multiplexing of the light detectors.

Abstract: In an apparatus in spinning preparation for separating foreign objects at conveying equipment for fiber material, at least one separation device is associated with the conveying equipment. The separation device comprises an arrangement for producing a blast of air that flows in the direction onto the conveying equipment and generates an air flow that detaches the foreign objects from the conveyed fibers and carries them away. The arrangement comprises a plurality of blast nozzles arranged across the width of the conveying equipment and connected to a compressed air pipe and to valves. To reduce the proportion of good fibers in the waste in a simple manner, and to allow a more selective action of the blast air current, a bar member for mounting the blast nozzles is present and the nozzles are integrated in the bar member.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an automatic separator apparatus of a Materials Recovery Facility. A separator for separating a stream of recyclable paper and containers into a paper stream including primarily paper and a container stream including primarily containers is provided. The separator has at least one adjustable operating parameter. A first detector detects an amount of container contaminants in the paper stream. A second detector detects an amount of paper contaminants in the container stream. A control system operably connected to the separator and the first and second detectors adjust the adjustable operating parameter so as to reduce a combined measure of contaminants in the paper stream and in the container stream.

Abstract: A grain images obtained by CCD line sensors are processed by binarization processing to obtain contour images of grains and images of colored portions in the grains. The images are displayed on a monitor screen of an operating panel 30. The contour images and the images of the colored portions are displayed in a superposed state. Box frames generated by a highlight display circuit in control means 12 are simultaneously displayed by being superposed on the contour images having defective portions, thus producing a highlight display of defective grains. The defective grains include a grain having a light colored portion and a grain having a dark colored portion.

Abstract: A system for unstrapping and unsleeving a tray is provided. The system comprises a tray-transport configured to transport a tray in the system, a strap cutter configured to cut a strap on the tray, a strap-removal portion configured to remove the strap cut by the strap cutter, and an unsleeving station configured to remove a sleeve from the tray. The unsleeving station is configured to remove the sleeve from the tray after the strap-removal portion removes the cut strap.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a limpness detecting device includes a transmitting unit to irradiate an acoustic wave towards a conveyed sheet to excite a Lamb wave, a first receiving unit to detect a leaky wave of the Lamb wave emitted from a front surface of the sheet, a second receiving unit to detect a leaky wave of the Lamb wave emitted from a back surface of the sheet, a comparison data calculating unit to calculate comparison data based on the signal detected by the first receiving unit and the signal detected by the second receiving unit, and an intactness judgment unit to compare the comparison data calculated by the comparison data calculating unit with a preset standard value and judge whether the sheet is an intact bill or not, based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: The apparatus, which serves for the optical inspection of workpieces, comprises a transport device driven by a drive unit, which transport device is supplied with workpieces delivered by a loading device, which workpieces are transported by the transport device to at least one inspection position, where an optical inspection is performed, and further to at least one discharge position, where the inspected workpieces are selectively extractable by a discharge device. According to the invention, a plurality of transparent receiving bodies are firmly mounted or rotatably supported on the transport device, each of the receiving bodies comprising a recess, into which the workpieces can be inserted individually or in groups, and wherein an inspection radiation can be guided through each receiving body in order to image the held workpieces.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an automatic separator apparatus of a Materials Recovery Facility. An input waste material stream includes a mixture of first and second materials. The method includes a step of passing the input waste material stream through an adjustable separator having at least one adjustable parameter, and separating the input waste material stream into a first output stream containing the majority of the first material and some contaminant second material, and a second output stream containing the majority of the second material and some contaminant first material. The adjustable parameter is adjusted. The method includes monitoring the amount of contaminant second material in the first output stream, and the amount of contaminant first material in the second output stream, both before and after the adjustment of the adjustable parameter, and generating a signal indicative of whether the combined amount of contaminant material has decreased.

Abstract: A flat detector includes a first flat member and a second flat member both made of a nonmagnetic nonmetal, a first conductive wiring that generates an alternating magnetic field, the first conductive wiring being disposed on a surface of the first flat member facing toward the second flat member, a first layer made of a nonmagnetic metal and disposed at least on a surface of the first flat member, a second conductive wiring that detects a signal generated by magnetization reversal of a magnetic material, the magnetization reversal being caused by the alternating magnetic field generated by the first conductive wiring, the second conductive wiring being disposed on a surface of the second flat member facing toward the first flat member, and a second layer made of a nonmagnetic metal and disposed at least on a surface of the second flat member.

Abstract: A device and method for sorting microparticles including a nozzle for a separating stream, with a vibration generator for the dispersion of the separation flow into a droplet flow with a deflector device for separation of the droplet flow into a through flow and at least one side flow depending on signals from an analytical device configured to analyze the microparticles (s) contained in the droplets and to control the deflector device. Also provided is a protective chamber in which at least the nozzle, the oscillation generator and the deflector device are arranged. The analytical device is outside the safety cabinet wherein the protective chamber is part of the safety cabinet with a clean chamber and a monitoring device through which the signals of the microparticles arising from the separating stream are supplied to the detectors of the analytical device, arranged outside the safety cabinet.

Abstract: A system for inspection of chips on a tray comprises an unloading arm device, a first support platform, and a plurality of first tray-handling apparatuses. The first support platform is disposed adjacent to the unloading arm device, movable along a first direction. The plurality of first tray-handling apparatuses are arrayed along the first direction on the first support platform. Each of the plurality of first tray-handling apparatuses provides a particular size of tray for inspection, different from the size of tray provided by other first tray-handling apparatuses, wherein the first platform is configured to move a desired one of the plurality of first tray handling apparatuses before the unloading arm device.

Abstract: A outer surface-inspecting method for judging whether a defect of a defective portion (27) extracted from an inspection area in an image (21A) of an object through comparison with a template is acceptable or not, comprising: dividing the inspection area into a plurality of sections (22, 23, 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b, 28a, 28b, 28c) respectively having different acceptable levels (CONDITION 1-5); preliminarily judging, when at least one extracted defective portion (27) spreads out over some of the sections (28a, 28b, 28c) respectively having different acceptable levels (CONDITION 3-5), whether defects of parts (27a, 27b, 27c) of the defective portion (27), each part (27a, 27b, 27c) being located on a different section (28a, 28b, 28c), are acceptable or not on a part to part basis according to the acceptable levels (CONDITION 3-5) of the sections (28a, 28b, 28c) on which the parts (27a, 27b, 27c) of the defective portion (27) are respectively located; and judging whether the defect of the defective portion (27) is acc

Abstract: A method of processing toothbrushes includes supplying a plurality of toothbrushes with tufts of bristles attached to heads of the toothbrushes. Similar portions of each of the toothbrushes differ in color from each other. A color of the portion of each of the toothbrushes is determined. The toothbrushes are reorganized according to the determined color.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for automated sorting of objects comprising a population, and for methods of sorting using same.

Abstract: An optical cracked-grain selector that does not mistakenly identify normal grains of rice having no cracks as cracked grains due to the presence of the embryonic portion and/or surface scratches when optically identifying cracked grains of rice mixed in with material rice grains. An identification part in a cracked grain identification unit obtains a first rice grain image (having an embryonic portion and scratches) based on light passed through the rice grain that is received by a first CCD sensor built into a CCD camera of a photoreaction detection unit and a second rice grain image (having cracks, an embryo portion and scratches) based on light passed through the rice grain received by a second CCD sensor built into the CCD camera, acquires an image of the cracks by calculating a difference in the amount of light between the two rice grain images, and identifies a cracked grain.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selectively removing or sorting undesirable articles wherein a product stream is transported by a conveyor, and then interrogated by an optical scanner and sorting processor to inspect and label the articles according to user specified criteria. Articles labeled or classified as undesirable articles are removed by an ejector or removal station while desirable or acceptable articles are passed.

Abstract: A piece of material that includes low-Z elements is classified based on photonic emissions detected from the piece of material. Both XRF spectroscopy and OES techniques, for example, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and spark discharge spectroscopy, may be used to classify the piece of material. A stream of pieces of material are moved along a conveying system into a stimulation and detection area. Each piece of material, in turn, is stimulated with a first and second stimulus, of a same or different type, causing the piece of material to emit emissions, for example, photons, which may include at least one of x-ray photons (i.e., x-rays) and optical emissions. These emissions then are detected by one or to more detectors of a same or different type. The piece of materials is then classified, for example, using a combination of hardware, software and/or firmware, based on the detected emissions, and then sorted.

Abstract: A system for sorting articles includes a detector system having a plurality of narrow bandwidth sources of electromagnetic energy sequentially illuminating articles passing through the detector system, the detector system further including a collector for collecting electromagnetic energy reflected from the articles; a deflector for deflecting selected articles toward an alternative destination; and a control system, operably connected to the collector and the deflector, for actuating the deflector in response to a sensed parameter of the electromagnetic energy collected in the collector.